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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 26, 2026

Design and Construction of an Urban Runoff Research Facility

Design and Construction of an Urban Runoff Research Facility

Published on: August 8, 2014

Rainforest metropolis casts 1,000-km defaunation shadow.

Daniel J Tregidgo^1,2, Jos Barlow^3,2, Paulo S Pompeu²

¹Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom; dantregidgo@gmail.com.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|July 26, 2017

Summary

Urbanization drives wildlife overharvesting in rainforests. A study near Manaus reveals severe depletion of tambaqui fish populations over 1,000 km, impacting biodiversity and livelihoods.

Keywords:

ecological footprint fishing down freshwater biodiversity overfishing urbanization

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Conservation Biology
Urban Ecology

Background:

Tropical rainforests are experiencing rapid urbanization.
The impact of emerging metropolises on wildlife overharvesting in adjacent ecosystems is poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of a rainforest metropolis in driving wildlife overharvesting.
To assess the extent and impact of defaunation around Manaus, Brazil.

Main Methods:

Conducted interviews with 392 rural fishers in the Amazon basin.
Analyzed changes in fish body size and catch rates (catch per unit effort).
Mapped the spatial extent of fishing impacts.

Main Results:

Documented a significant defaunation shadow extending over 1,000 km from Manaus.
Observed a 50% reduction in the body size of the keystone tambaqui fish (Colossoma macropomum).
Recorded a substantial decrease in catch rates, linked to urban market access via city boats.

Conclusions:

Urban markets can drive severe overharvesting deep into rainforest wilderness.
Defaunation impacts rural fisher livelihoods and flooded forest biodiversity.
Findings have implications for managing other urbanizing socioecological systems.